Johns Hopkins Medicine Mandatory Flu Vaccination Policy Update

To staff of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins HealthCare, Johns Hopkins Home Care Group, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians and the Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation.

Dear Colleagues,
Getting an annual flu vaccine demonstrates our commitment to protect the safety and health of our patients, many of whom already have weakened immune systems, as well as our visitors, co-workers, and families. In addition, mandatory flu vaccination is becoming standard practice in Maryland health care facilities.

Beginning this fall, The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine are instituting a mandatory influenza vaccination policy that requires all health care personnel to receive a flu vaccination if they:

• provide ongoing patient care services or
• work in patient care or clinical care areas.

Each Johns Hopkins Medicine member organization has adopted its own policy supporting this important, institution-wide effort to protect our patients and colleagues and will address non-compliance in accordance with applicable disciplinary policies or work rules. While this is a departure from the voluntary approach we have used in the past, evidence-based studies regarding the impact of influenza and our responsibilities as health care workers are compelling and support this decision. 

This fall’s flu vaccine protects against three strains of influenza, including H1N1. The vaccine is provided free to all staff, students, volunteers and other personnel. To find out when and where you can receive your flu vaccine, visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hse/occupational_health/flu_campaign.html. For questions, call 410-955-6211.

Compliance with this policy requires that by December 1 each year, you must: 

1. Receive the current season’s flu vaccination from Occupational Health Services free of charge; or
2. Submit proof of receipt of the current season’s flu vaccination from a source outside of Johns Hopkins; or
3. If necessary, be granted:
   • A medical exception through Occupational Health Services.
   • A religious accommodation through Human Resources (if you are employed by The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, Johns Hopkins Health Care or Johns Hopkins Home Care Group).
   • A religious accommodation through the Office of Institutional Equity (only if you are employed by the School of Medicine).

Under these circumstances, you will be required to properly wear a surgical mask within six feet of any patient for the duration of the flu season. Failure to maintain this patient safety standard of our organization could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Start and end dates for wearing protective masks will be announced separately by the Johns Hopkins Health System Epidemiology and Infection Prevention program.

For staff members who fail to comply with this policy by Dec. 1, 2012, will be placed on a one-week unpaid administrative leave.  If you do not receive a flu vaccination by the end of this one-week leave, you are considered to have voluntarily resigned, as you are no longer in compliance with our conditions of employment.

If you need more information about the policy or this season’s vaccine, please visit http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/mandatoryflu. Thank you in advance for getting this important vaccination that will help keep you and your patients as well as your family and colleagues safe.

Sincerely,

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ronald R. Peterson
President
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
EVP, Johns Hopkins Medicine